Macular hole formation following intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for branch retinal vein occlusion: a case report

TL;DR

A rare case report shows a macular hole developing after ranibizumab treatment for retinal vein occlusion, which was later successfully treated with surgery.

Contribution

Reports a rare complication of macular hole formation following ranibizumab injection for branch retinal vein occlusion.

Findings

A full thickness macular hole developed nine days after ranibizumab injection in a patient with branch retinal vein occlusion.

The macular hole was successfully closed after vitrectomy and cataract surgery, improving visual acuity to 20/40.

Abstract

Macular hole formation after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy is a rare complication. We report macular hole formation after intravitreal ranibizumab injection for branch retinal vein occlusion.

A 63-year-old Asian male was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injection for chronic macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion in his right eye. Before treatment, best-corrected visual acuity in his right eye was 20/200. Nine days after injection, a full thickness macular hole developed with reduction of macular edema. After pars plana vitrectomy combined with cataract surgery, the macular hole was successfully closed, and the best-corrected visual acuity in his right eye improved to 20/40.

The possibility of an infrequent complication like macular hole should be considered for intravitreal ranibizumab for macular edema with branch retinal vein occlusion.

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